About the Bayou City Classic:

The Bayou City Classic 10k is Houston's premier 10k race and walk!  The Bayou City Classic 10k has been a Houston tradition for more than 30 years and attracts more than 3000 runners, walkers, and volunteers.  We'll be continuing the Bayou City Classic 5k Fun Run & Walk which was added in 2012 for more family fun!  This year we are offering discounted registration fees for all participants born in the 21st century.

Why we put on this event:

Proceeds from the Bayou City Classic go toward helping maintain and develop trails for running and walking in our city parks.  The trails are available to anyone who lives in or visits Houston looking for a place to exercise or find a green haven away from the hustle and bustle of Houston's big city life.  Help preserve the trees!  We were able to raise $45,000 for the Houston Parks & Recreation Department in 2012.

RRCA Championship Series:

The goal of the Road Runners Club of America Championship Event Series is to shine a spotlight on well-run events and to award top performing runners in the open, masters (40+), grand masters (50+), and senior grand masters (60+) categories for both men and women.  Since 1958, the RRCA has awarded championship events through a competitive bidding process at the National, Regional, and State level to RRCA member clubs and events to promote the sport of distance running.  The Bayou City Classic 10k is proud to have been selected as the RRCA State Championship 10k Race for 2013.

Race Date:

Race Day is Saturday, March 9, 2013.

Start Time:

Wheelchair participants begin the 10k at 7:50 a.m.  Runners and walkers begin the 10k at 8:00 a.m.  All 5k participants start at 8:20 a.m.

Where:

Both the 10k race and the 5k fun run begin in Downtown Houston.  The Post Race Party will be in Hermann Square.

Distance:

The race distances are 10 kilometers (or 6.2 miles) and 5 kilometers (or 3.1 miles).

Entry Fees:

Fees for the 2013 race are the same as they were in 2012!  You can save by registering early for the Bayou City Classic!  Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) Members and the employees of our sponsors receive a discount.  A HARRA Membership Number or Employee Discount Code must be used to receive the discount.  You may join HARRA here.

• 10k Fees
  • Early (before 1/1/13): $25 ($23 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • Regular (1/1/13 to 1/31/13): $30 ($28 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • Late (2/1/13 to 2/28/13): $32 ($30 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • At Packet Pickup: $35 ($33 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • Race Morning: There will be no 10k Registration on Race Morning.
• 5k Fees
  • Early (before 1/1/13): $15 ($13 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • Regular (1/1/13 to 1/31/13): $18 ($16 (for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • Late (2/1/13 to 2/28/13): $20 ($18 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • At Packet Pickup: $25 ($23 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
  • Race Morning: $30 ($28 for HARRA Members & Sponsor Employees)
• 5k Fees For Children Born Who Were Born After 12/31/1999
  • Early (before 1/1/13): $8
  • Regular (1/1/13 to 1/31/13): $9
  • Late (2/1/13 to 2/28/13): $10
  • At Packet Pickup: $13
  • Race Morning: $15

Each Centipede Member must be registered.  Online registration is available with no additional fees through until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 (but not on Packet Pick Up Days).  You can use the printed form and mail it with your check (postmarked on or before February 28) or bring it to Packet Pick Up/Late Registration/Late Registration.  In addtion to check or cash, you may pay by credit card or debit card at Packet Pick Up.  THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION FOR THE 10K.  If you would like to have your packet mailed to you, you must register on-line by 11 p.m., Monday, February 11 and include a fee of $5 (in addition to your entry fee for each participant).  If your packet is not mailed, it must be picked up (by you or your agent) during Packet Pick Up.  You may register for the 5k only on race day.  If you register for the 5k, you may not switch to the 10k without paying the difference between the fee you originally paid and the current 10k fee to obtain a 10k bib.  To make a change request, please go to the Contact Us page to complete the form or email Andrea However, if you register for the 10k, you may run the 5k instead.  There are no refunds--if you cannot participate in the race, the proceeds from your entry will go towards the Houston Parks and Trails fund as a charitable contribution.

Packet Pickup (and Late Registration):

There is no 10k race day packet pick up or registration!  Only 5k participants may register on race day.  If you would like to have your packet mailed to you, you must register online on or before February 11 and include a fee of $5 (in addition to your entry fee).  Otherwise, plan to have your packet picked up at one of the packet pick up locations listed below.  For race updates, follow us on or .

Refunds & Transfers:

There will be no refunds or transfers (giving your entry to another person), no exceptions (even if the race is cancelled in the event of bad weather or circumstances beyond our control).  If you would like to request a deferral to the 2014 race for a fee of $10, please go to the Contact Us page to complete the form or email Andrea by 11 p.m., Monday, February 25.

Course:

Due to the construction of the new Metro Light Rail Lines, we will be featuring new courses in 2013. Our 10k race course will be certified by the Road Running Technical Council of USATF.

Finishers' Shirts:

All finishers will receive a Finisher's Shirt at the Post Race Party (no shirts will be given out prior to the race). Those who register for and complete the 10k will receive gender specific, short-sleeved technical shirts by New Balance and those who register for and complete the 5k will receive traditional short-sleeved cotton t-shirts.

Post Race Party and Awards Ceremony:

After the race, enjoy refreshments donated by our fabulous sponsors, and live music featuring Tommy Dardar in front of City Hall around the reflection pool in Hermann Square.  The awards ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.  The party goes on and on!

You can get a taste of what you'll hear Tommy Dardar perform here.

Parking:

Please arrive early enough to find parking and make your way to the Start Line before 7:45 a.m.  Street parking is not free on Saturdays and streets around the Start Line and Finish Line may be closed.  You can find the locations of parking garages here.

Race Scoring:

Race scoring for the 10k only will be done by ChronoTrack DTag.  You will not be considered an official 10k finisher if you do not wear the tag on your shoe.  The tag will be attached to your bib number.  You must detach the tag from your bib and attach it to your shoe prior to the start of the race.  You will NOT need to return the tag at the conclusion of the race.  You will NOT be able to use your personal timing chip for this race.  For more a demonstration on how to attach your tag, please view the video.

Volunteers:

The Bayou City Classic cannot take place without the help of wonderful volunteers.  We can use your help before the race and on race day.  Some of the opportunities include:

• Before the Race:
  • Packet Stuffing
  • Packet Pick Up
  • Post Race Party Set Up
• On Race Day:
  • Start Line
  • Water Stop
  • Timers
  • Post Race Party
  • Finisher Shirt Distribution

To volunteer, please go to the Contact Us page to complete the form or email Eddie.

Bayou City Classic in the Houston Media:

Read about the Bayou City Classic in the Houston Chronicle.

Watch Race Director Joe Sellers, Houston Parks & Recreation Department Director Joe Turner, and Apache Corporation's Wendy Craven talk about the Bayou City Classic on KHOU's Good Day Houston.

Click here to see the Bayou City Classic Ads that are airing on KHOU.